Patent · US11359817B2 · B2 · US

Pellet grills

(11) Publication number

US11359817B2

(21) Application number

16/678,006

(22) Filing date

2019-11-08

(30) Priority date

2019-01-25

(43) Publication date

2022-06-14

(45) Date of grant

2022-06-14

(51) IPC

A47J 36/32; A47J 37/07; G05B 23/02; F23B 40/08; F24B 13/04; F24B 15/00; H04L 67/125

(52) CPC

F24B Domestic stoves or ranges for solid fuels; implements for use in connection with stoves or ranges: 13/04, 15/005
A47J Kitchen equipment; coffee mills; spice mills; apparatus for making beverages: 36/32, 36/321, 37/067, 37/0694, 37/07, 37/0704, 37/0709, 37/0754, 37/0786
F23B Methods or apparatus for combustion using only solid fuel: 1/36, 40/08, 50/12, 60/02
F23G Cremation furnaces; consuming waste products by combustion: 2205/121, 2205/14, 2209/261, 5/40, 7/105
G05B Control or regulating systems in general; functional elements of such systems; monitoring or testing arrangements for such systems or elements: 23/0262, 23/027
H04L Transmission of digital information, e.g. telegraphic communication: 67/125
Y02A Technologies for adaptation to climate change: 40/928

(73) Assignee

Weber Stephen Products LLC

(72) Inventors

Brian C. Donnelly; Ryan P. Lundberg; David Eckhardt

(54) Title

Pellet grills

(57) Abstract

Pellet grills and associated methods of operation are disclosed. An example pellet grill includes a one or more processors configured to detect an improper shutdown of a control system of the pellet grill. The one or more processors are further configured to generate a notification in response to the control system regaining power following detection of the improper shutdown, the notification indicating that the control system was improperly shutdown. The one or more processors are further configured to cause the notification to be presented at a user interface of the pellet grill.

Full text

View on Google Patents

Claims (17)

A pellet grill, comprising: an auger; an auger motor operatively coupled to the auger; and one or more processors configured to: detect an improper shutdown of a control system of the pellet grill; and in response to the control system regaining power following detection of the improper shutdown: generate a notification indicating that the control system was improperly shutdown; cause the notification to be presented at a user interface of the pellet grill; command the auger motor to repeatedly pulse the auger between a first direction of rotation and a second direction of rotation opposite the first direction; determine, based on the pulsed rotation of the auger, whether the auger is jammed; and in response to determining that the auger is jammed, initiate a protocol to clear the jam.
The pellet grill of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to detect the improper shutdown by detecting an unexpected loss of power to the control system.
The pellet grill of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the notification to be wirelessly transmitted from the pellet grill to a device located remotely from the pellet grill.
The pellet grill of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to initiate a diagnostic check of the control system in response to the control system regaining power following detection of the improper shutdown.
The pellet grill of claim 4, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to initiate a startup protocol of the control system following completion of the diagnostic check.
The pellet grill of claim 1, wherein the auger motor is a direct current (DC) powered electric motor.
The pellet grill of claim 1, further comprising a fan and a burn pot, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to command the fan to operate in a pulsed output mode in response to the control system regaining power following detection of the improper shutdown, the operation of the fan in the pulsed output mode to cause ash located in the burn pot to be removed from the burn pot.
The pellet grill of claim 7, wherein the fan is a direct current (DC) powered electric fan.
A method, comprising: detecting, via one or more processors of a pellet grill, an improper shutdown of a control system of the pellet grill; and in response to the control system regaining power following detection of the improper shutdown: generating, via the one or more processors, a notification indicating that the control system was improperly shutdown; presenting the notification at a user interface of the pellet grill; commanding, via the one or more processors, an auger motor of the pellet grill operatively coupled to an auger of the pellet grill to repeatedly pulse the auger between a first direction of rotation and a second direction of rotation opposite the first direction; determining, via the one or more processors, based on the pulsed rotation of the auger, whether the auger is jammed; and in response to determining that the auger is jammed, initiating, via the one or more processors, a protocol to clear the jam.
The method of claim 9, wherein detecting the improper shutdown includes detecting an unexpected loss of power to the control system.
The method of claim 9, further comprising initiating, via the one or more processors, a diagnostic check of the control system in response to the control system regaining power following detection of the improper shutdown.
The method of claim 11, further comprising initiating, via the one or more processors, a startup protocol of the control system following completion of the diagnostic check.
The method of claim 9, further comprising commanding, via the one or more processors, a fan of the pellet grill to operate in a pulsed output mode in response to the control system regaining power following detection of the improper shutdown, the operation of the fan in the pulsed output mode to cause ash located in the burn pot to be removed from the burn pot.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors of a pellet grill to at least: detect an improper shutdown of a control system of the pellet grill; and in response to the control system regaining power following detection of the improper shutdown: generate a notification indicating that the control system was improperly shutdown; cause the notification to be presented at a user interface of the pellet grill; command an auger motor of the pellet grill operatively coupled to an auger of the pellet grill to repeatedly pulse the auger between a first direction of rotation and a second direction of rotation opposite the first direction; determine, based on the pulsed rotation of the auger, whether the auger is jammed; and in response to determining that the auger is jammed, initiate a protocol to clear the jam.
The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to detect the improper shutdown by detecting an unexpected loss of power to the control system.
The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to initiate a diagnostic check of the control system in response to the control system regaining power following detection of the improper shutdown.
The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to command a fan of the pellet grill to operate in a pulsed output mode in response to the control system regaining power following detection of the improper shutdown, the operation of the fan in the pulsed output mode to cause ash located in the burn pot to be removed from the burn pot.

Description

This disclosure relates generally to grills and, more specifically, to pellet grills.

Pellet grills are electronically-controlled cooking devices that are configured to cook (e.g., smoke, grill, bake, roast, broil, sear, and/or otherwise heat) food items located within (e.g., placed on one or more cooking grate(s) positioned within) a cooking chamber of the pellet grill. The controllable electronic components of the pellet grill can be powered via AC power (e.g., supplied to the pellet grill via household electricity or wall power) or DC power (e.g., supplied via an on-board or connected battery and/or DC power supply).

Conventional pellet grills store a volume of combustible pellet fuel (e.g., wood-based pellets) in a hopper that is mounted and/or coupled to the pellet grill. A motor-driven auger in communication with an exit opening of the hopper feeds and/or supplies the pellet fuel from the hopper into a burn pot of the pellet grill in a controlled and/or automated manner. The speed, rate, and/or duty cycle of the auger is typically based on a user-selected temperature (e.g., a temperature setpoint) that is established and/or desired for the cooking chamber of the pellet grill. Pellet fuel that is deposited in the burn pot can initially be ignited via an electronic starter of the pellet grill.

Combustion and/or burning of the pellet fuel within the burn pot produces, generates, and/or outputs heat which is subsequently distributed throughout the cooking chamber in a manner that causes the food items located within the cooking chamber to gradually become cooked.

Citations (137)

US2983269A
US3816857A
US4520740A
US4619209A
US4922889A
US4823684A
US5155160A
US5123360A
US5137010A
US5295474A
US5383446A
US5488943A
US5617841A
US5178076A
US5133266A
US5285738A
US5429110A
US5873356A
US5875882A
US6336449B1
US6155160A
GB2344743A
US5996572A
US6223737B1
US6276286B1
US6405662B1
US6507507B2
US6643152B2
KR101009285B1
JP2004115247A
US20040083405A1
US20040226550A1
US20070215021A1
US7665406B2
JP2005090802A
US7318431B1
US20060168984A1
US20080168977A1
US7621227B2
US20070157858A1
US20070188131A1
US20080047448A1
US7530351B2
US7721661B2
US8210110B2
US7900553B1
US20110048398A1
US20090293860A1
US8322331B2
US20180005509A1
US9799199B2
US10339783B2
US8931400B1
US20160335874A1
US20180005508A1
US20110136066A1
KR20110069250A
US20120008457A1
US8800542B1
US20120206266A1
US20160334106A1
US9427107B2
KR101347212B1
KR20130030423A
WO2013116946A1
US8925714B1
US9423178B2
US8730038B2
US20130298894A1
US20150282668A1
US20140259895A1
US20160327263A1
US20170176018A1
US20140326233A1
US20140326232A1
US20140343515A1
US9585518B1
US20150064314A1
US9913559B2
US9928672B2
US20150213009A1
US9980321B2
US20170135159A1
US10036554B2
US20170343218A1
US20150320259A1
US9759429B2
US20160037966A1
US20170211816A1
US20160081515A1
US20160127928A1
US20160141865A1
US20160374501A1
US9439530B2
US20180008093A1
US20160224428A1
US20160230992A1
US20160227981A1
US20190133374A1
US20180070772A1
US9814354B2
US10426295B2
US10105007B2
WO2016153547A1
US20180146824A1
US9959728B2
US20170065124A1
US20170067649A1
US20190150663A1
US20180168397A1
US10455979B2
US20170074522A1
US20170164783A1
US20170099989A1
US20180213970A1
US20190289117A1
US10491738B2
US10455022B2
US10158720B2
JP2018538703A
US10218833B2
US20170195542A1
US10092135B2
US20180242772A1
US20170238751A1
WO2017161254A1
US20180007739A1
US20180007738A1
CN208017401U
WO2019157372A1
US20210361115A1
US20190282032A1
US20190293470A1
US20190290066A1
US20190290064A1
US20200086780A1
US20200214503A1

Record as JSON

{
  "publication_number": "US11359817B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Pellet grills",
  "abstract": "Pellet grills and associated methods of operation are disclosed. An example pellet grill includes a one or more processors configured to detect an improper shutdown of a control system of the pellet grill. The one or more processors are further configured to generate a notification in response to the control system regaining power following detection of the improper shutdown, the notification indicating that the control system was improperly shutdown. The one or more processors are further configured to cause the notification to be presented at a user interface of the pellet grill.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A pellet grill, comprising: an auger; an auger motor operatively coupled to the auger; and one or more processors configured to: detect an improper shutdown of a control system of the pellet grill; and in response to the control system regaining power following detection of the improper shutdown: generate a notification indicating that the control system was improperly shutdown; cause the notification to be presented at a user interface of the pellet grill; command the auger motor to repeatedly pulse the auger between a first direction of rotation and a second direction of rotation opposite the first direction; determine, based on the pulsed rotation of the auger, whether the auger is jammed; and in response to determining that the auger is jammed, initiate a protocol to clear the jam.",
    "2. The pellet grill of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to detect the improper shutdown by detecting an unexpected loss of power to the control system.",
    "3. The pellet grill of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the notification to be wirelessly transmitted from the pellet grill to a device located remotely from the pellet grill.",
    "4. The pellet grill of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to initiate a diagnostic check of the control system in response to the control system regaining power following detection of the improper shutdown.",
    "5. The pellet grill of claim 4, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to initiate a startup protocol of the control system following completion of the diagnostic check.",
    "6. The pellet grill of claim 1, wherein the auger motor is a direct current (DC) powered electric motor.",
    "7. The pellet grill of claim 1, further comprising a fan and a burn pot, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to command the fan to operate in a pulsed output mode in response to the control system regaining power following detection of the improper shutdown, the operation of the fan in the pulsed output mode to cause ash located in the burn pot to be removed from the burn pot.",
    "8. The pellet grill of claim 7, wherein the fan is a direct current (DC) powered electric fan.",
    "9. A method, comprising: detecting, via one or more processors of a pellet grill, an improper shutdown of a control system of the pellet grill; and in response to the control system regaining power following detection of the improper shutdown: generating, via the one or more processors, a notification indicating that the control system was improperly shutdown; presenting the notification at a user interface of the pellet grill; commanding, via the one or more processors, an auger motor of the pellet grill operatively coupled to an auger of the pellet grill to repeatedly pulse the auger between a first direction of rotation and a second direction of rotation opposite the first direction; determining, via the one or more processors, based on the pulsed rotation of the auger, whether the auger is jammed; and in response to determining that the auger is jammed, initiating, via the one or more processors, a protocol to clear the jam.",
    "10. The method of claim 9, wherein detecting the improper shutdown includes detecting an unexpected loss of power to the control system.",
    "11. The method of claim 9, further comprising initiating, via the one or more processors, a diagnostic check of the control system in response to the control system regaining power following detection of the improper shutdown.",
    "12. The method of claim 11, further comprising initiating, via the one or more processors, a startup protocol of the control system following completion of the diagnostic check.",
    "13. The method of claim 9, further comprising commanding, via the one or more processors, a fan of the pellet grill to operate in a pulsed output mode in response to the control system regaining power following detection of the improper shutdown, the operation of the fan in the pulsed output mode to cause ash located in the burn pot to be removed from the burn pot.",
    "14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors of a pellet grill to at least: detect an improper shutdown of a control system of the pellet grill; and in response to the control system regaining power following detection of the improper shutdown: generate a notification indicating that the control system was improperly shutdown; cause the notification to be presented at a user interface of the pellet grill; command an auger motor of the pellet grill operatively coupled to an auger of the pellet grill to repeatedly pulse the auger between a first direction of rotation and a second direction of rotation opposite the first direction; determine, based on the pulsed rotation of the auger, whether the auger is jammed; and in response to determining that the auger is jammed, initiate a protocol to clear the jam.",
    "15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to detect the improper shutdown by detecting an unexpected loss of power to the control system.",
    "16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to initiate a diagnostic check of the control system in response to the control system regaining power following detection of the improper shutdown.",
    "17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to command a fan of the pellet grill to operate in a pulsed output mode in response to the control system regaining power following detection of the improper shutdown, the operation of the fan in the pulsed output mode to cause ash located in the burn pot to be removed from the burn pot."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This disclosure relates generally to grills and, more specifically, to pellet grills.\n\nPellet grills are electronically-controlled cooking devices that are configured to cook (e.g., smoke, grill, bake, roast, broil, sear, and/or otherwise heat) food items located within (e.g., placed on one or more cooking grate(s) positioned within) a cooking chamber of the pellet grill. The controllable electronic components of the pellet grill can be powered via AC power (e.g., supplied to the pellet grill via household electricity or wall power) or DC power (e.g., supplied via an on-board or connected battery and/or DC power supply).\n\nConventional pellet grills store a volume of combustible pellet fuel (e.g., wood-based pellets) in a hopper that is mounted and/or coupled to the pellet grill. A motor-driven auger in communication with an exit opening of the hopper feeds and/or supplies the pellet fuel from the hopper into a burn pot of the pellet grill in a controlled and/or automated manner. The speed, rate, and/or duty cycle of the auger is typically based on a user-selected temperature (e.g., a temperature setpoint) that is established and/or desired for the cooking chamber of the pellet grill. Pellet fuel that is deposited in the burn pot can initially be ignited via an electronic starter of the pellet grill.\n\nCombustion and/or burning of the pellet fuel within the burn pot produces, generates, and/or outputs heat which is subsequently distributed throughout the cooking chamber in a manner that causes the food items located within the cooking chamber to gradually become cooked.",
  "cpc": [
    "F24B 13/04",
    "A47J 36/32",
    "A47J 36/321",
    "A47J 37/067",
    "A47J 37/0694",
    "A47J 37/07",
    "A47J 37/0704",
    "A47J 37/0709",
    "A47J 37/0754",
    "A47J 37/0786",
    "F23B 1/36",
    "F23B 40/08",
    "F23B 50/12",
    "F23B 60/02",
    "F23G 2205/121",
    "F23G 2205/14",
    "F23G 2209/261",
    "F23G 5/40",
    "F23G 7/105",
    "F24B 15/005",
    "G05B 23/0262",
    "G05B 23/027",
    "H04L 67/125",
    "Y02A 40/928"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A47J 36/32",
    "A47J 37/07",
    "G05B 23/02",
    "F23B 40/08",
    "F24B 13/04",
    "F24B 15/00",
    "H04L 67/125"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Weber Stephen Products LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Brian C. Donnelly",
    "Ryan P. Lundberg",
    "David Eckhardt"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2019-11-08",
  "publication_date": "2022-06-14",
  "grant_date": "2022-06-14",
  "priority_date": "2019-01-25",
  "application_number": "US-201916678006-A",
  "family_id": "71733554",
  "cited_by_count": 11,
  "citations": [
    "US2983269A",
    "US3816857A",
    "US4520740A",
    "US4619209A",
    "US4922889A",
    "US4823684A",
    "US5155160A",
    "US5123360A",
    "US5137010A",
    "US5295474A",
    "US5383446A",
    "US5488943A",
    "US5617841A",
    "US5178076A",
    "US5133266A",
    "US5285738A",
    "US5429110A",
    "US5873356A",
    "US5875882A",
    "US6336449B1",
    "US6155160A",
    "GB2344743A",
    "US5996572A",
    "US6223737B1",
    "US6276286B1",
    "US6405662B1",
    "US6507507B2",
    "US6643152B2",
    "KR101009285B1",
    "JP2004115247A",
    "US20040083405A1",
    "US20040226550A1",
    "US20070215021A1",
    "US7665406B2",
    "JP2005090802A",
    "US7318431B1",
    "US20060168984A1",
    "US20080168977A1",
    "US7621227B2",
    "US20070157858A1",
    "US20070188131A1",
    "US20080047448A1",
    "US7530351B2",
    "US7721661B2",
    "US8210110B2",
    "US7900553B1",
    "US20110048398A1",
    "US20090293860A1",
    "US8322331B2",
    "US20180005509A1",
    "US9799199B2",
    "US10339783B2",
    "US8931400B1",
    "US20160335874A1",
    "US20180005508A1",
    "US20110136066A1",
    "KR20110069250A",
    "US20120008457A1",
    "US8800542B1",
    "US20120206266A1",
    "US20160334106A1",
    "US9427107B2",
    "KR101347212B1",
    "KR20130030423A",
    "WO2013116946A1",
    "US8925714B1",
    "US9423178B2",
    "US8730038B2",
    "US20130298894A1",
    "US20150282668A1",
    "US20140259895A1",
    "US20160327263A1",
    "US20170176018A1",
    "US20140326233A1",
    "US20140326232A1",
    "US20140343515A1",
    "US9585518B1",
    "US20150064314A1",
    "US9913559B2",
    "US9928672B2",
    "US20150213009A1",
    "US9980321B2",
    "US20170135159A1",
    "US10036554B2",
    "US20170343218A1",
    "US20150320259A1",
    "US9759429B2",
    "US20160037966A1",
    "US20170211816A1",
    "US20160081515A1",
    "US20160127928A1",
    "US20160141865A1",
    "US20160374501A1",
    "US9439530B2",
    "US20180008093A1",
    "US20160224428A1",
    "US20160230992A1",
    "US20160227981A1",
    "US20190133374A1",
    "US20180070772A1",
    "US9814354B2",
    "US10426295B2",
    "US10105007B2",
    "WO2016153547A1",
    "US20180146824A1",
    "US9959728B2",
    "US20170065124A1",
    "US20170067649A1",
    "US20190150663A1",
    "US20180168397A1",
    "US10455979B2",
    "US20170074522A1",
    "US20170164783A1",
    "US20170099989A1",
    "US20180213970A1",
    "US20190289117A1",
    "US10491738B2",
    "US10455022B2",
    "US10158720B2",
    "JP2018538703A",
    "US10218833B2",
    "US20170195542A1",
    "US10092135B2",
    "US20180242772A1",
    "US20170238751A1",
    "WO2017161254A1",
    "US20180007739A1",
    "US20180007738A1",
    "CN208017401U",
    "WO2019157372A1",
    "US20210361115A1",
    "US20190282032A1",
    "US20190293470A1",
    "US20190290066A1",
    "US20190290064A1",
    "US20200086780A1",
    "US20200214503A1"
  ]
}

Record 1,137 of 8,000 in Patents full text (MLC-0201). Request the full dataset.